A double-decker bus has overturned in Somerset as the UK is blasted by ice and snow as temperatures plummet across the country.
The major crash on the A39 in the south-west of England comes after treacherous conditions saw more than 100 car crashes in just a few hours as drivers struggled to cope with the sudden change in conditions.
Injuries were reported on the bus which was believed to be carrying around 80 people to work at Hinkley Point nuclear power station, though exact numbers have yet to be confirmed.
‘A significant number’ of police, fire and ambulance emergency services rushed to the scene as a major incident was declared, while ‘many’ people were reported to be injured.
A double decker bus has been flipped over onto its side on the A39 in Somerset after reportedly colliding with a motorcycle
The A28 in Sussex has been closed after a truck blocked the road when it skidded on the ice
Yet another vehicle had to be rescued after an accident in Shepton Mallet, Somerset today
A major incident has been declared following the collision and police have urged the public to avoid the road
Yellow warnings are in place for Northern Ireland and Wales as well as large parts of England and Scotland. An amber warning for snow is in place in the Scottish highlands
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across southern England, parts of the northwest and north Wales, Northern Ireland and large parts of northern Scotland.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), a Government health agency, issued a level three cold alert on Monday in response to ‘severe winter weather’.
A number of roads have been closed, including the A39 in Somerset where a double-decker bus has been overturned after a collision with a motorbike.
Police and the air ambulance attended the A39 Quantock Road, near Cannington, in Somerset at around 6am.
‘Many’ people are believed to have been injured in the crash but this has not yet been confirmed, The Sun reported.
Closures are in place at the junction of Sandford Hill and Quantock Road and heavy traffic is being reported from B3339 Sandford Hill to Qunatock Meadow.
Avon and Somerset Police said: ‘We were called at around 6am today to the A39 Quantock Road following a road-related incident involving a double-decker bus and a motorcyclist.
‘Closures are in place at the junction of Sandford Hill and Quantock Road.
‘A significant number of police, fire and ambulance units are on the scene and a major incident has been declared.’
A spokesman for the power station said: ‘A bus carrying members of the Hinkley Point C workforce has been involved in a traffic incident on the A39 in Bridgwater.
‘Emergency services are on the scene and travel to and from the site has been suspended.’
He could not comment on how many workers were involved or whether they had been injured.
A road was closed when a vehicle was turned over on the A37 at Shepton Mallet, Somerset
A bus veered off the road and crashed into a lamppost in Blackpool as road accidents occurred across the country in the treacherous conditions
A car lies in an icy ditch after it skidded off the road amid the difficult driving conditions
Merseyside has also been hit by the cold snap this morning as snow continues to fall
Cornwall has seen a huge dump of snow overnight, causing disruption on the roads there
Heavy snowfall has covered roads and rooftops in Cornwall, which saw freezing temperatures last night
A road in Kent has been blocked by a truck which lost control on the ice and skidded
A jogger in Cambridge braves the cold for a run by the River Cam early this morning
A cyclist faces the freezing conditions this morning in a frosty Blackheath Common in south London this morning
Snow covers the ground in Cornwall where temperatures plunged overnight to below freezing
The sudden dump of snow and ice on the roads has caused chaos in much of the south west of England today
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice in southern England, north Wales, Northern Ireland and northern Scotland
Temperatures plummeted across the country last night, with the coldest weather seen in Yorkshire where it was -9.8C
The crash comes after places including Yorkshire, Northumberland and the north of Scotland woke up to huge dumps of snow and frost this morning, with the cold weather set to continue throughout this week.
Thousands face travel chaos this morning as snow and ice cover the roads in places.
A section of the A30 in Devon has been blocked up by snow, according to Cornwall and Devon police, affecting tens of thousands of drivers.
In Kent, a road was blocked by truck which lost control on the ice became stuck, stopping traffic in both directions.
Elsewhere in Addleston, mud flowed onto a train track and dramatically evaporated into steam as it covered the live rail.
Avon and Somerset Police said this morning they are advising the public to only travel if essential after the force received more than 100 reports of road-related incidents in five hours.
A total of 53 road traffic collisions were reported to police between 6pm and 11pm on Monday evening, with the majority being a result of the freezing weather causing dangerous driving conditions.
The force said seven of the incidents were reported to have resulted in injuries but they are not thought to be serious.
A further 67 calls were received for other road-related incidents.
Superintendent Mark Runacres said: ‘We are advising the public to only travel where absolutely essential due to the treacherous driving conditions.
‘If travel is necessary, we ask the public to take extreme caution and allow additional time to travel.
‘We have seen a significantly higher number of road-related collisions and incidents in the past 12 hours, which has increased the demand on police resources.
‘We are working with local authorities and National Highways to ensure roads are properly gritted ahead of the rush hour traffic to improve driving conditions.’
The Met Office has said all of England will continue to experience cold weather until 9am on Friday.
Forecasters issued a yellow warning for ice across southern England which is in place until 10am this morning, with ice likely to cause difficult driving conditions.
A separate yellow warning for snow and ice is also in place in Cornwall and Devon until 10am.
At just after 3am, Devon and Cornwall Police tweeted: ‘Police are urging drivers to travel with caution as heavy snow showers sweep across the region.
‘£A30 Carland Cross near Newquay is currently blocked due to snow, Highways are aware. Please allow extra time for any journey and drive with care.’
Just before 4.30am, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service tweeted: ‘We’ve had reports that vehicles are getting stuck in snow on the A39 at Trispen and A391 at Bugle.
‘Please take extra care on the roads as driving conditions are hazardous. If necessary, pull over if it is unsafe to continue.’
A snow-covered graveyard in Cornwall this morning as the region is hit by the latest cold snap
The extreme temperatures are set to continue, and could drop as low as -11C later this week
Forecasters issued a yellow warning for ice across southern England which is in place until 10am on Tuesday morning. Pictured: Blackheath Common, south London
Travel disruption is expected to continue throughout the week as temperatures remain low
Striking photos show how the snow has blanketed parts of the country after a dump last night
The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for snow and ice across parts of Northern Ireland, north-west England and Wales from 12pm on Monday until 12pm on Tuesday.
Separate yellow warnings for snow and ice are in place in Scotland until 9am on Tuesday.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan activated the capital’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers on Monday, as temperatures in the city are expected to fall below 0C overnight.
The Met Office has warned that ‘snow showers and icy stretches may bring some disruption’ and could lead to longer journeys for drivers and train passengers.
It said treacherous conditions could also lead to slips and falls on icy surfaces, and urged drivers and cyclists to beware of icy patches on untreated roads.
Parts of the country were hit with freezing temperatures as low as -8C and -9C in south Wales and Yorkshire.
Temperatures could plunge as low as -11C in the next few days as wintry conditions return following weeks of mild weather.
The extreme forecast prompted the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) to urge people to wear several thin layers and consume plenty of hot drinks if they’re feeling the chill in the coming days, and to be mindful of vulnerable family members, friends or neighbours who might need checking on.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: ‘Cold weather can have a serious impact on health, particularly older people and those with pre-existing health conditions, as it increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.
‘During this period, it is important to check in on family, friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to the cold weather.
‘If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat your home to at least 18C if you can.’
An ice warning is in place for south England until 10am, with Cornwall also under a snow warning for the same time period as rain could turn to snow.
There is a warning for snow and ice across north Wales, as well as Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, which is in effect until midday. The same warning is in place across Northern Ireland at the same times.
Large parts of Scotland, including the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and the Shetland Islands, are covered by a yellow snow and ice warning until 9am on Wednesday, with the Met Office warning snow could turn heavy at times.
All these areas will see tricky conditions on the roads and on public transport, with people being urged to take care when travelling.
Jason Kelly, the chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘Cold, icy and sometimes snowy conditions are in the forecast this week, with the UK seeing more of a north-westerly regime, with temperatures well below average for the time of year.
‘Wintry showers are likely at points through the week in the north of England. Warnings have been issued, and ice is likely to be a hazard for much of the week with some tricky travel conditions possible.
‘Maximum temperatures will largely only reach the low single figures, with temperatures below freezing through most nights this week.’
